Rena Laverty | USA Hockey's NTDP
Aaron
Vickers
January 1, 2025

These 2025 NHL Draft eligibles have impressed so far at the World Juniors

The 2025 World Juniors has already provided players, fans and scouts alike with some memorable moments — good, bad, and indifferent. The 2025 NHL Draft crop playing at the World Juniors is no different.

But those who have shined have shone brightly through preliminary round action at the World Juniors.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the biggest standout among eligibles skating at the World Juniors is American-born forward James Hagens, No. 2 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking for the 2025 draft.

Hagens has six points (two goals, four assists) in four games as one of Team USA’s biggest straw-stirrers through the preliminary round. Anchoring a top-line with first-rounders Gabriel Perreault (No. 23, 2023; New York Rangers) and Ryan Leonard (No. 8, 2023; Washington Capitals), Hagens has been everything expected out of a challenger for No. 1 come June.

“Driving play all tournament long, Hagens was an integral part of Team USA’s success getting the first place in Group A,” FCHockey scout Samuel Tirpak said. “He’s shown an impressive offensive game and playmaking ability as a center of their top line and being top producer for the team from the forward group.”

The 18-year-old holds a share of sixth in tournament scoring through the preliminary round.

“Hagens is a fast, electric, and creative playmaker who processes and sees plays develop ahead of his peers,” FCHockey scout Joey Fortin Boulay said. “As a draft-eligible player at the World Juniors, he looks like a veteran 19-year-old, as everything in his game seems effortless.”

Here are other 2025 draft eligibles who have impressed through the first four games at the World Juniors:

Victor Eklund | F | Sweden

Victor Eklund, ranked No. 5, hasn’t been as productive as Hagens, but he’s certainly been impactful on a Swedish squad that has topped Group B. Eklund, 18, has five points (two goals, three assists) and a plus-5 rating in four games and is sixth among forwards in ice time averaging 15:58 per game.

“He’s been one of the most important players on that Swedish team,” Tirpak said. “Using his speed, tenacity and his skillset as a dual-threat player to be an impactful forward in every situation he was playing.”

Linards Feldbergs | G | Latvia

Linards Feldbergs‘ 3.14 goals-against average isn’t close to being a tournament lead through four games, but his impressive .926 save percentage for Latvia has helped orchestrate an upset of Canada in round-robin play and his 2-2-0 record — he’s played every minute for his country — has his squad humming along entering the elimination rounds. Though he wasn’t selected as a 2024 draft-eligible goalie, that could be rectified in 2025.

“Feldbergs was absolutely phenomenal and a core reason as to why Latvia has gotten the results that have,” FCHockey scout Brian Serpa said. “He’s very solid all around and was very, very impressive. He’s quick with fast reflexes, good general positioning, and strong slot coverage. Well rounded and I’d think he’s put himself on some radars with how he’s done so far.”

David Lewandowski | F | Germany

Germany hasn’t had the smoothest going at the World Juniors, but it’d be hard to pin that on David Lewandowski. Lewandowski, ranked No. 84, has two goals in four games for the winless Germans set to go up against Kazakhstan in the relegation round. The 17-year-old — he doesn’t turn 18 until late February — is seeing 16:28 of ice time for Germany, fifth among forwards.

“He’s one of the bright spots on a German team who didn’t record a win,” FCHockey scout Kareem Elshafey said. “Lewandowski  was a solid offensive creator who was constantly in dangerous areas of the ice. He doesn’t have the speed to rely on to beat opponents but takes advantage of open ice and creates it in other ways. Also showed his ability to play a hard nosed game by engaging and succeeding in battles down low.”

Luka Radivojevic | D | Slovakia

Luka Radivojevic, ranked No. 44, has just two points, both assists, to show for in his four games with Slovakia through preliminary play, but the production — or lack thereof — isn’t a knock on one of the top offensive-minded defensemen in the 2025 draft class. He’s impressed nonetheless.

“To me, he was the team’s top defender,” Tirpak said. “He’s an efficient puck-mover who was heavily involved offensively, passing the pucks left and right. The only reason why he doesn’t have more points to showcase for his play is because he wasn’t apart of the team’s top power-play unit as a top offensive defender, for whatever reason.”

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